Evil Agreement

by Richard L Hatin

Aaron told her what had just taken place. From her vantage she could plainly see the man Aaron described to her.

  “So, how do we get out of here without him following us, at least not right away, that is?” asked Aaron.

  “Easy,” said Korie. “When I went to the women’s room I passed the men’s room and on the opposite side of the hallway is a fire exit door.”

  “Okay. So we leave out that door. Won’t he be suspicious if we both head out to the bathroom and don’t come back in a couple of minutes? He’ll guess we’ve run off, and head straight for the hotel.”

  “That’s why you’re going to stay here.”

  Aaron looked incredulous.

  “Look, if we’re both gone then he will be suspicious. But if we split up, then I think we have a chance to get away. I’ll leave out that back door and head back to the hotel and get our things. I’ll meet you out front with the car, thirty minutes from the time I leave. However, you’ve got to make him stay.”

  “Sounds like it might work but how do I make him stay?”

  “I don’t know. Since he’s interested in you, give him what he wants. Play some music again. That ought to get his attention.”

  “Okay, so how do we start?”

  “Easy,” she said as she turned and signaled for the waitress.

  In a moment the young waitress was standing at their table. Korie spoke to her for a moment—the waitress nodded a couple of times. She gave her the glass she had been using. Korie had slipped a ten-dollar bill inside the glass. The waitress turned and left.

  Korie and Aaron turned and watched the band perform a B.B. King cover. She began to push Aaron on the arm and back to get up and head to the stage. Reluctantly he stood up, shrugged his shoulders, and then headed in the direction of the stage.

  Moments later the waitress arrived with a clean glass and a small plate of Buffalo wings. She leaned over and spoke discreetly to Korie, and then left her alone.

  Aaron meanwhile had made it back to the stage just as the band finished up the B.B. King number. The person who had been playing bass gestured to Aaron to take his place. Aaron stepped up onto the low stage and took the bass from the man. After shortening the strap he slipped it over his shoulder.

  The lead guitar player leaned over and said “We’re going to do another B.B. King piece called Ain’t Nobody’s Business. Can you handle it?”

  “Just give me the key, and I’ll follow right along.”

  He gave a little smile and wave to Korie who was still sitting back at their table.

  The song began.

  Korie half filled her glass and took a couple of sips from it. She sampled the Buffalo wings and found them to be delicious. However it was time to put her plan into action. She bent over a bit and held her stomach as if she was feeling a stomach cramp. She repeated this gesture again. Korie stood up and began to slowly make her way past several tables, while she held her left hand to her stomach.

  Ed watched Korie head to the bathroom. He turned his attention to the band and more specifically Aaron.

  He’s not half bad, thought Ed. He turned around and asked the bartender for a refill. The drink was poured and Ed once again handed the bartender a ten dollar bill and told him to keep the change.

  During that moment, Korie slipped out the emergency door next to the bathrooms. She went down the small alley way to the front of Mojo’s. There was a cab waiting in front of the restaurant. She quickly got in the cab and gave the driver her instructions. The cab driver put the car into gear and pulled away. Moments later, Korie paid the cabbie and got out in front of the Radisson Hotel. She went to a side entrance to avoid going through the lobby. Just inside the entrance she located the emergency stairwell and pulled on the door handle. It wouldn’t open.

  That’s right, shit. This is the first floor, hotels always lock the emergency stairways from entrance on the first floor, she thought. She hurried to the elevators, making sure she couldn’t be seen directly from the lobby, she was careful to keep her back to the security camera. If what Aaron had been told was correct, then someone inside of this hotel had cooperated with that guy at Mojo’s. She wasn’t going to take any unnecessary chances. The elevator doors opened on her floor and she hurried down the hallway holding her hands to her temples as if to massage a headache. She reached her room, unlocked the door and quickly slipped inside. Everything looked in place. Nothing seemed to have been disturbed.

  Could Aaron have the message wrong? she thought.

  Then she noticed the tour magazine she and Aaron had read earlier when they had decided to go to Mojo’s. She remembered specifically having left it on the table. She was sure of it. It was now lying on the bed.

  That was all the confirmation she needed. Her efforts now kicked into high gear, as she opened the dresser drawers tossing their clothes onto one of the beds. She pulled their luggage out of the closet and in just a few minutes she had managed to cram all of their belongings into their luggage.

  Korie took the television remote and turned on the television. She changed channels until she located the hotel’s house channel. Using the remote control she selected a menu which allowed her to check out of the hotel electronically. With that task completed she left the room key card on top of the low dresser. She picked up their luggage and left the room. She went back down the hall and stopped at the icemaker machine and reached behind it to retrieve the diary. It was still where they had left it. She unzipped Aaron’s large bag and stuffed it inside. Moments later, she was putting the luggage into the trunk of their car which was parked inside the Hotel’s garage. She got inside of the car, started it up and pulled out of the parking slot.

  “Shit!” she said. She had just remembered that she needed the room card key to exit the parking garage.

  Damn, this means I’m going to have to go to the front desk and get an exit pass.

  Just then she noticed another car drive by on its way out of the garage.

  What the hell, she thought as she put the car into gear and followed the other car to the exit gate.

  The other driver put his room key card into the exit gate slot. The gate slowly rose up. The other car pulled through the exit gate. Korie pulled up close behind the other car. There couldn’t be more than a foot between the two cars.

  I hope he doesn’t stop, she thought.

  The gate began to descend. It landed on the trunk of Korie’s car and bounced up a foot in the air after it hit the trunk. It descended again. This time, there wasn’t anything in its way, since Korie’s car had now cleared the exit. Korie headed to Mojo’s to get Aaron.

  Meanwhile at Mojo’s, Aaron and the other band members were in the middle of playing the Texas Hop, originally performed by Pee Wee Crayton.

  Ed had finished his second drink.

  The band was looking to take a break. Aaron looked at his watch and noted that it was too early for Korie to be out front.

  He spoke up to the members of the band, “Say, how about one more just to close out the set? It will be my last one.”

  “What did you have in mind?” asked the keyboard player.

  Aaron thought for a moment, when inspiration struck. He reached into the back pocket of his pants and pulled out his harmonica, which he had a habit of carrying around.

  “If someone will take the bass, I’ll be glad to play the harp on C-Boy’s Blues by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, if you fellas know the tune.”

  “Cool,” said one of the trumpet players. “We haven’t played any T-bird covers in a month. I’m in.”

  In a moment, places were exchanged as the band slipped into C-Boy’s Blues. Aaron’s harmonica playing was the best he had ever done. The room was soon tight once again with the band, and the music. When the number was over, the room erupted into a standing ovation for the tired musicians.

  The lead guitar player spoke into his microphone “Hey, you people are just great. Listen, we’re going to take a fifteen minute break, okay? I know Ron would want you to take this opportunity to
order some more suds, so he can pay his bills. So help the poor guy out.”

  There was a smattering of laughter from the room. People began to mill around as the band members came off the stage. Aaron headed for the door. He was stopped by Ron.

  “Hey man, you’ve got a gift with that harp. You blew us away.”

  “Thanks,” said Aaron. “I’m in a hurry right now. Listen could I pay you for our drinks and...” as he fumbled with his wallet he pulled out four twenties and handed them to Ron.

  “That should more than cover it,” said Aaron as he looked over Ron’s shoulder. He could see Ed had left his seat at the bar and was now heading in Aaron’s direction.

  Ron was studying Aaron’s eyes. He could see the nervousness and fear.

  “Something wrong?” asked Ron.

  “No, uh, not really, it’s just that I’ve got to go.”

  “Uh-huh. Your waitress told me that your girl friend had to slip out the back earlier. You in trouble? Someone after you? Cause if they are I’ll be glad to help. You just say the word. We blues men have got to stick together, you know.”

  Aaron took a chance “Sort of trouble, I guess, there’s a guy who has been following my friend and I for a couple of days, and we don’t know why. He scares the shit out of us, and he’s here now. In fact, he’s coming this way.”

  For a moment Aaron and Ron’s eyes met. Ron’s brow furrowed up as he tapped Aaron on the hip. “Go, I’ll slow him down for you. Hurry!”

  Aaron smiled at Ron, “Thanks.”

  Aaron turned and headed to the front door.

  Ron turned around and he immediately spotted a tall man dressed in a well-worn business suit heading for the door after Aaron. The man’s focus was entirely on Aaron. He didn’t see Ron approaching him from a right angle. Even though Ron walked with a limp he could manage some speed when he needed to, especially in his own place. Ron managed to head the man off a few feet from the front door.

  “Hey, what’s your hurry?” asked Ron as he stepped in front of Ed.

  “Out of my way.”

  “You don’t look like a satisfied customer. As the owner, I’m interested in your feedback. Are you unhappy with the food, the service, what is it?”

  Ed tried to step around Ron who managed to stay in front of him. Aaron had exited the front door and climbed into the car as Korie pulled away from Mojo’s.

  “Everything was fine—now get out of my way.”

  “Really...” said Ron.

  Ed was getting exasperated by this man. He pulled out his old FBI badge. He flashed it in the face of Ron.

  “FBI business, now move.”

  “Is that a real badge? Shit, it is,” said Ron.

  Ed’s senses were on full alert. They told him this man had run interference for Aaron. By now Aaron had slipped away. From deep inside, a power was unleashed.

  Ed’s eyes met Ron’s.

  Ron didn’t like what he saw in those eyes. His senses told him he was looking into the face of a monstrously evil person. Suddenly, Ron’s two legs began to burn with a sensation that felt as if his legs had been tossed upon a bed of white-hot coals.

  The pain was beyond anything Ron had ever felt before. He buckled from the searing sensations. He had to grab the back of a nearby chair to steady himself.

  Ed easily stepped around Ron and he, too, left Mojo’s. In the cool air of the summer’s night, a slight breeze was blowing from the west across Lake Champlain. He knew he had lost Aaron and Korie. It didn’t matter that much. He suspected that sooner or later, they would turn up in Sutton. He decided to head back home. He had a good look at the two and they both seemed ordinary enough. The two would not be a match for the combined power of Moloch’s coven. The end was coming.

  Moments later, Aaron and Korie entered the ramp to head south on Interstate 89. They were going to Sutton.

  Aaron suddenly received a flash image of Ron. He could see Ron sitting on a chair massaging his legs and wincing with pain. Somehow Aaron could feel the same pain in his own legs. He began to rub his own legs. Korie was talking to him but her voice seemed faded and weak. Aaron was concentrating on the image of Ron and his suffering.

  Aaron’s mind began to focus on Ron’s hands. His mind flashed a message to those hands that seemed to ignite a healing sensation.

  Ron was also seeing Aaron in his mind. The two men were mentally joined as if they were one. Aaron wanted Ron to pass his hands over his legs but not to touch them. Ron did just that. As he did, the burning sensation was lifted away. Ron stood up. His legs felt as they did before his encounter with the “FBI” man. He slowly walked towards the stage. He felt a strong urge to play some music.

  Aaron had fallen asleep.

  Korie turned the car radio down as she headed along the dark highway.

  ***

  Samuel was in his bedroom. He had closed the bedroom door and locked it. He now called for Moloch.

  Samuel pulled back the braided rug that covered the center of the floor in his room. He had painted a pentagram inside of a circle on the well-worn wooden floor. He turned the light off in his room and drawn the shade closed. The room was totally dark. The darkness felt comfortable to Samuel. He awaited Moloch by standing and facing the pentagram, with his arms down to his side, with his hands held slightly forward, palm side up.

  Inside the pentagram a small swirl of spinning light began rotating just above the floor. The spinning light swirled upward and grew in size until it reached the ceiling. The whirlwind of light filled the entire circle surrounding the pentagram. A shape, now familiar to Samuel, began to form inside of the pentagram. This shape became more solid in appearance in a matter of moments. The shape also emitted an eerie glow that seemed to ebb back and forth between green and yellow.

  Samuel marveled at this apparition from the nether world which was now putting in a personal appearance in his bedroom. Samuel’s face reflected back the pulsating light emitted by the form now standing before him.

  “Upuaut, the time for our master to join you here on earth is rapidly approaching. Everything must be ready,” said Moloch.

  “We shall be ready,” said Samuel.

  “He will be pleased to learn of your efforts.”

  “Thank you.”

  “My sister was caught trying to run away with a non-believer.”

  “I know. The use of your powers to destroy the young non-believer was interesting. We have given you many powers and you will need them all to serve our Master.”

  “What do you want me to do with my unfaithful sister?”

  “Save her for later. She is to be one of His concubines. She will learn to serve, for her body and soul will belong to Him.”

  Samuel smiled slightly.

  “The male Powell and his girl friend are somewhere in the area. They are going to come here, soon. Should we seize him?”

  “No. He must participate of his own free will. That is the way.”

  “He will join our coven, then?”

  “Yes, as it was foretold.”

  “Does he have powers?” asked Samuel.

  “Yes, he does. But your powers are greater. You have ten other coven members with special powers to call upon. His powers shall not be a problem.”

  “What about his girlfriend?”

  “She is of no consequence in this. If she gets in your way, destroy her.”

  Moloch began to fade into a swirling mass of changing light. The swirl of light began to compress upon itself, until the light collapsed into the center of the pentagram with a snapping sound. Samuel’s ears popped from the sudden change in air pressure in the room.

  ***

  Kelley had regained control over the muscles in her body. For the past hour or so, she screamed at the top of her lungs. She had to stop, her throat ached and was dry.

  She strained against the clamps and chains that held her, but they were still secure. Her wrists were sore from the chaffing caused by the edges of the clamps. Her hair was becoming mated from the pe
rspiration she had worked up. She began to worry about dehydration. Then worst thoughts entered her mind.

  Maybe they’re not coming back at all. Maybe they’re just going to wait for me to die here. No food, no water, just this fucking darkness, she thought.

  Suddenly she could feel something moving down her right arm. Its touch was light but noticeable. It was an insect of some kind, she was sure. It stopped half way up her arm. Its tiny legs moved from side to side as if trying to decide which way to go. It resumed moving up her arm. Soon it was at her shoulder.

  Kelley shook her body as much as she could to try and shake the insect off. It didn’t work. She turned her head to the right and tried blowing against her shoulder to blow the insect off. The insect simply moved out of the way of her blowing.

  It began to move again. This time she could feel it walking on her hair. It moved in a slow and probing fashion, slowly to the top right side of her head, and then slowly it stepped onto her forehead. Kelley screamed, and shook her head back and forth, to try and shake the insect off. By now she was sure it was some kind of spider. She stopped and stayed motionless for a few moments.

  Was it gone? Did it fall off? she thought. Please, her mind pleaded. She was crying.

  The spider wasn’t dislodged at all. It had held on. It began to move again. It slowly crawled down the right side of her face. Kelley kept her eyes and mouth closed tight. The spider now moved down to her neck. Kelley felt this was her chance. She turned her head and chin down to the right, against her neck, in an effort to crush the spider.

  She missed!

  The spider moved down her neck until it reached the top of her tee shirt. Its tiny legs probed the edges of the shirt.

  The spider moved to the center of her shirt where it found the shirt was slightly raised. The spider went under the fabric.

  Moments later the spider bit Kelley. Its bite sent a new wave of fear into an already panicked mind.

  What kind of spider is it? “Oh God...Please somebody help me,” whimpered Kelley.

  Other spiders, dozens of them, moved confidently about the darkened chamber. One by one, they each began a journey in search of food.